Bulb changing device



Feb. 16, 1954 a. T. B-OWIE BULB CHANGING DEVICE l W t M p 0 M A m B E Vw r m E m s m M 2 m Filed May 22, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22,1950 Benjamiq 7i Bowie INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BULB CHANGING DEVICEBenjamin '1. Bowie, Greenville, S. C.

Application May 22, 1950, Serial No. 163,337

This invention relates to a bulb changing device for facilitating themaintenance and repair of fluorescent lighting fixtures and moreparticularly to a device of this kind having a pole with jaws forgrasping the fluorescent light at its outer end.

An object of this invention is to provide a device having a pair ofopposed jaw members thereon for grasping a fluorescent bulb when it isdesired to change the same, and which jaw members are actuated bypositive means including a flexible shaft operated cam.

A further object of this invention is to provide means operable with thecam actuating means for selectively removing the starter fuse of thefluorescent lamp from its position.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of anelongated mechanism capable of use in removing fluorescent lamps fromtheir fixtures when the fluorescent lamps are in difficult places toreach or otherwise inaccessible.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a bulbchanging device that is strong, durable, highly efficient in operation,simple in construction and manufacture, capable of being used by even anuntrained laborer, and which will be quite inexpensive.

These, together with the various ancillary objects of the inventionwhich will become apparent as the following description proceeds, areattained by this bulb changing device, a preferred embodiment of whichhas been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of exampleonly, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the bulb changing device comprisingthe present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the jaw members in a closedposition, the sectional view being taken along the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the device comprising thepresent invention showing the members in an open position;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail showing the position of the handleelements and latching rod in a position different from that shown inFigure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the line 5--5 ofFigure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail as taken along the line B--6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the de- With continuing referenceto the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals 7 Claims.(01. 294-) designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral [0 generally designates the present invention whichincludes a housing 12 having a central aperture l4 and to which there ispivotally attached by means of pins l6 opposed jaw members it which aremirror images of each other.

The jaw members H? are provided with central recesses 20 in which a cam22 having rollers 24 rotatably mounted thereon is adapted to Work andengage the jaw members. There is provided a coil spring 26 which extendsabout the jaws i 8 and continuously urges them together The cam 22 isactuated by a square shaft 28 which extends through a central aperturein the cam. Obviously, when the cam 22 is rotated so that the major axisof its elliptical configuration is in line with the rollers inengagement with the jaw members, the jaws will be opened as shown inFigure 3. However, when the major axis of the elliptical cam 22 is insuch alignment, the spring 26 will urge the jaw members together.

Connected to the square shaft 28 is a flexible shaft 30 which ispreferably made from a resilient coil spring and which extends through afirst tubular shaft 32 of cylindrical shape which is pivotally connectedto the housing l2 by means of an attachment 34. Threaded pins .36 areused to effect this pivotal attachment.

The flexible shaft 30 terminates in a cylindrical member 38 which isrigidly secured to a tubular sleeve 40. The tubular sleeve 40 isprovided with a plurality of spaced slots 42, the purpose of which willbe henceforth disclosed.

A tubular shaft 44 concentric with the tubular sleeve 43 is positionedso as to readily slide within the first shaft 32. The shaft 32 isprovided with apertures 45 therethrough adjacent its end remote from thejaw members and headed pins 46 are loosely positioned in the apertures45 in order that a clamping ring 48 may be positioned so as to cause thepins to rigidly engage the tubular shaft 44 and hold the shafts 32 and44 in an adjusted and desired position.

The tubular shaft 44 extends into a central recess in a handle member 50and a latching rod 52 is secured to the backing member 54 of the handle50. The latching rod 52 is provided with an upwardly extending detent 5Bwhich can be selectively engaged within one of the recesses 42. Hence,as the tubular sleeve 40 is slidable within the tubular shaft 44 thelatching rod 52 may engage the sleeve 40 within one of the slots 42 inorder to enable the sleeve 40 to be rotated which hence rotates theflexible shaft 30 which, in turn, rotates the shaft 28 which turns thecam 22. Further, upon the locking of the latching rod 52 with. thesleeve 4|] it is able to urge the shaft 28 outward of the jaws when theyare open so as to enable the starter fuse engaging element 58 mounted onthe end of the shaft 20 to extend outward of the jaws and be able toperform its function of removing the starter fuse from the lamp fixturewhen such is necessary. A recess 60 is formed in each of the jaw membersfor housing the starter fuse engaging member.

As can be readily seen from an inspection of Figure 4, the centralrecess of the handle member 50 is of greater diameterthan the tubularshaft M which enables the handle member to be rocked thus disengagingthe latch rod 52 from the slots 42. Thus, it is possible to move thelatching rod 52 into engagement with another of the slots depending onwhether or not it is desired to actuate the rod as to urge the starterfuse engaging member outward of the jaws. The clamping ring 48 enablesthe device to be extended within the desired limits so as to enable theuser to reach lamp fixtures in difiicult or remote positions. In orderto remove a starter fuse, the cup-like element 58 is placed over thestarter fuse, urged upwardly and twisted thereby releasing the fusewhich then rests in the cup-like element 53.

Since from the foregoing the construction and advantages of this bulbchanging devices are readily apparent, further description is believedto be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specificationand accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention tothe precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitablemodifications and equivalents may be readily resorted to which fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A gripping device comprising a housing, jaw members pivotallyattached to said housing, spring means urging said jaw members together,cam means engaging said jaw members and actuating the same, a firstshaft slid-ably connected to said cam means and to extend through saidhousing, a tubular rod. pivotally attached a latch rod secured to saidhandle, said latch rod selectively engaging said sleeve within one ofsaid slots for rotating said tubular sleeve to actuate said cam meansand to slide said tubular sleeve toward said. housing to urge saidstarter use engaging means outward of said jaw memhers.

2. A gripping device comprising a housing,

jaw members pivotally attached to said housing. spring means urging saidjaw members together,

4 cam means for actuating said jaw members and engaging said jawmembers, a first shaft slidably connected to said cam means and adaptedto extend through said housing, a tubular rod pivotally attached to saidhousing, a flexible shaft extending into said housing, said flexibleshaft being secured to said first shaft, said flexible shaft beingpartially encompassed by said rod, starter fuse engaging means on thefree end of said first shaft, said starter fuse engaging meansconstituting a stop to prevent withdrawal in one direction of said firstshaft from said cam means, said flexible shaft being secured to atubular sleeve, said tubular sleeve having a plurality of spaced slotstherein, a handle, a latch rod secured to said handle, a tubular shaftextending into said handle ands'lidably disposed in said rod, said latchrod selectively engaging said sleeve within one of said slots forrotating said tubular sleeve to actuate said cam means and to slide saidtubular sleeve within said tubular shaft toward said housing to urgesaid starter fuse engaging means outward of said jaw members.

3. A gripping device comprising a housing, jaw members pivotallyattached to said housing, spring means urging said jaw members together,cam means for actuating said jaw member members and engaging said jawmembers, a first shaft connected to said cam means and adapted to extendthrough said housing, a tubular rod pivotaily attached to said housing,a flexible shaft extending into housing, said'flexible shaft beingsecured to said first shaft, said flexible shaft being partiallyencompassed by said rod, said lexible shaft being secured to a tubularsleeve, said tubular sleeve having a plurality of spaced slots therein,a handle, a latch rod secured to handle, a tubular shaft extending intosaid handle, said tubular sleeve being selectively slidable within saidtubular rod and said tubular shaft, said latch rod selectively'engagingsaid sleeve withincne of said slots for rotating said tubular sleeve toactuate said cam means, said cam. means including a substantiallyelliptical member, and rollers rotatably mounted on said ellipticalmember, said rollers engaging said jaw members.

a. A gripping device comprising a housing, jaw

members pivotally attached to said housing,

spring means urging said jaw members together, cam means for actuatingsaid jaw members and engaging said jaw members, a first shaft connectedto said cam means and adapted to extend through said housing, a tubularrod pivotally attached to said housing, a flexible shaft extending intosaid housing, said flexible shaft being secured to said first shaft,said flexible shaft being partially encompassed by said rod, starterfuse engaging means on the free end of said first shaft, said starterfuse engaging means constituting a stop to prevent withdrawal of thefirst shaft in one direction from the cam means, said jaw members havingopposing recesses therein, said cam means seating in said recesses, andsaid fuse engaging means seating in said recesses when the jaws are inclosed position, said flexible shaft being secured to a tubular sleeve,said tubular sleeve having a plurality of spaced slots therein, a handleprovided with a tubular shaft in which said tubular sleeve is slidablydisposed, a latch rod secured to said handle, said latch rod selectivelyengaging said sleeve within one of said slots for rotating said tubularsleeve to actuate said cam means and to slide said tubuaccents larsleeve toward said housing to urge said starter fuse engaging meansoutward of said jaw members, said cam means including a substantiallyelliptical member, and rollers rotatably mounted on said ellipticalmember, said rollers engaging said jaw members.

5. A gripping device including a housing, opposing, complementary jawmembers pivoted to one end of the housing, resilient means urging saidjaw members toward closed position, an actuating rod non-circular incross-section passing through said housing and having one endterminating between said jaw members, said jaw members having opposingrecesses therein, a cam disposed in said recesses and slidably mountedon said actuating rod and a stop on said one end of said actuating rodpreventing withdrawal in one direction of the rod from the cam, rotationof the rod and cam opening said jaw memhere, said stop being adapted forextension beyond said jaw members when the same are open, said stopconstituting a starter removing element, and means for rotating andsliding said actuating rod.

6. A gripping device including a housing, opposing, complementary jawmembers pivoted to one end of the housing, an actuating rod noncircularin cross-section passing through said housing and having one endterminating between said jaw members, said jaw members hav ing opposingrecesses therein, a cam disposed in said recesses and slidably mountedon said actuating rod and a stop on said one end of said actuating rodpreventing withdrawal in one di rection of the rod from the cam,rotation of the rod and cam opening said jaw members, resilient meanssurrounding said jaw members yield- I ingly opposing their openingmovement, said stop being adapted for extension beyond said jaw memberswhen the same are open, said stop constituting a starter removingelement, and means for rotating and sliding said actuating rod.

7, A gripping device including a housing 0pposing, complementary jawmembers pivoted to one end of the housing, resilient means urging saidjaw members toward closed position, an actuating rod non-circular incross-section passing through said housing and having one endterminating between said jaw members, said jaw members having opposingrecesses therein, a cam disposed in said recesses and slidably mountedon said actuating rod and a stop on said one end of said actuating rodpreventing withdrawal in one direction of the rod from the cam, rotationof the rod and cam opening said jaw members, said stop being adapted forextension beyond said jaw members when the same are open, said stopconstituting a starter removing element, and means for rotating andsliding said actuating rod, said rotating and sliding means includinghandle means connected to one end of said rod, a sleeve secured to theother end of said actuating rod and extending into said handle means,said sleeve having a plurality of longitudinally spaced aperturestherealong, a latch bar on said handle adapted to seat in a selected oneof said sleeve apertures for rotating said actuating rod.

BENJAMIN T. BOWIE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 977,158 Berkstresser Nov. 29, 1910 1,201,506 Rozelle et a1Oct. 17, 1916 1,202,432 Rozelle et a1. Oct. 24, 1916 1,482,653 LillyFeb. 5, 1924 1,541,839 Metzler et a1 June 16, 1925 1,790,761 OrtolonFeb. 3, 1931 2,116,651 Ackerson May 19, 1938 2,367,003 Carson Jan. 9,1945 2,385,820 Leibow Oct. 2, 1945 2,407,331 Van Velzer Sept. 10, 19462,543,607 Sprenger Feb. 27, 1951

